Unites States Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (USNMRTC) Guam celebrates Certified Nurses Day by honoring the 53 Board Certified Nurses on staff. The following nurses were recognized for their professionalism, leadership, and commitment to excellence in patient care, Mar. 19, 2024:

LT Kaitlin Andres, RNC-OB
CAPT Accursia Baldassano, FNP-BC
LT Nicole Barthelme, PMHNP-BC
CDR Timothy Benjamin, CNOR
LT Angelica Bustamante, PCCN
CDR Patricia Butler, RNC-OB, C-EFM
LT Raul Cardona, CCRN
LTJG Brenda Carey, CCRN
LT Terrance Cheatham, CNOR
LT Lauren Cooney, PCCN
CAPT Virginia Damin, CCRN
LTJG Mary Debrine, CEN
GS Maria Del Rosario, RNC-OB
LCDR Vincent Diventi, CRNA
LT Keenan Fitts, CCRN, CMC
LCDR Zebulon Gay, CCRN
LT Na Ha, RNC-OB
LT David Hebding, MEDSURG-BC, PMH-BC
GS Kathleen Ho, MEDSURG-BC
LCDR Ruth Johns, CCRN
CDR Mary King, RNC-OB, SANE-A
LT Scott Klingensmith, CCRN
LCDR Gary Laccay, CNOR
LT Aizik Landaverde, CEN, TCRN
GS Suzanne Lobaton, COHN-S
CDR David Loshbaugh, CNM
LT Benjamin Makus, CCRN
LT Joanne Mamie, CEN, PCCN
CDR Sonya McKay, CJCP
LTJG Erin Moore, CEN
LCDR Kristine Narciso, CCRN
LT Leslie Newburn, CEN
LT Nathaniel Novak, AGCNS-BC, CPN
LT Elena Onofreiciuc, CCRN
LT Michelle Palom, CCRN, CMC
CDR Desirae Pierce, NNP-BC, RNC-NIC
LT Ben Quinit, CCRN
GS Rose Quizon, RAC-CT
LT Joseph Roberto, CEN, CMSRN
LT Evan Rutherford, CCRN
LT Ian Ryan, CNOR, CMSRN
CTR Marissa Sablan, PCCN
GS Ariane Sagun, CEN
LT Kaitlin Sauter, CEN
GS Hannah Shaw, PCCN-K
GS Mae Simsiman, RNC-OB
LT Meaghan Smith, CCRN
LT Stephanie Sottile, CMSRN
LT Jennifer Steveley, AGCNS-BC
LCDR Sheila Sweeney, RNC-OB
LCDR Kirra Tobias, CNOR
LCDR John Tranberg, CRNA
LTJG Ann Zingsheim, CEN

Board certification of nurses plays an increasingly important role in the assurance of high standards of care for patients and their loved ones. Nursing, like health care in general, has become increasingly complex. While a registered nurse (RN) license provides entry to general nursing practice, the knowledge-intensive requirements of modern nursing require extensive education, as well as a strong personal commitment to excellence by the nurse.

USNMRTC Guam encourages national board certification for all its nurses. Patients are encouraged to inquire whether there are certified nurses on staff when they visit a hospital or their primary care provider. There are many nursing certification specialties, such as medical-surgical, pediatric, pain management, cardiac vascular, oncology, hospice, case management, emergency nursing, critical care, and many others. Many nursing certification bodies exist to serve the full range of specialized nursing care offered in the contemporary health care system; national nurse-certifying bodies should be accredited by the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC) or the National Organization for Competence Assurance (NOCA).

Join USNMRTC Guam and the nation’s national nursing certification organizations in honoring those hardworking, dedicated nurses for their professionalism and a job well done!